menaces of the court from defending them at all. Mr. Holt, one of their number, signed Prynn's answer, and was told by Lord Chief Justice Finch, that he deserved to have his gown pulled over his ears for drawing it," though it contained nothing but mere explanations of points of fact, and a dry recital of acts of parliament; and afterwards, when it was expunged by order of the judges, and another prepared, Mr. Holt, in excuse for not signing the second, being appealed to by Prynn in open court, submissively replied, that "he durst not set his hand to it, for fear of giving their honours distaste."

THE LONG PARLIAMENT.

There, perhaps, was no period in the history of the British senate, in which our senators more nearly approached the nervous eloquence of the Greeks and Romans, than during the sitting of the long parliament. The language was clear and copious, and often displayed strong marks of the most animated eloquence. In one of the debates at this period, the lord keeper, Finch, having observed, "That whatever supplies had been raised from the subject, had been again restored to them in fructifying showers;" to this remark Lord Digby very spiritedly answered, "It has been a frequent metaphor with these ministerial oppressors, that whatever supplies have been raised from the subject, have been again restored to them in fructifying showers; but it has been in hail-stones and mildews, to wither our hopes, and batter and prostrate our affections."

AUDI ALTERAM PARTEM.

"In law, what plea so tainted and corrupt,
But, being seasoned with a gracious voice,
Obscures the shew of evil!"

MERCHANT OF VENICE.

James the First, soon after his accession to the English throne, was present in a court of justice, to observe the pleadings in a cause of some consequence. The counsel for the plaintiff having finished, the king was so perfectly satisfied, that he exclaimed, ""Tis a plain case!" and was about to leave the court. Being persuaded, however, to stay and hear the other side of the question, the pleaders for the defendant made the case no less plain on their side. On this, the monarch rose and departed in a great passion, exclaiming, They are all rogues alike."

FLETCHER OF SALTON.

Mr. Fletcher is allowed to have been by far the finest speaker in the parliament of Scotland at the time of the union. He was remarkable for a close and nervous eloquence, which commanded the admiration of all who heard it. To an uncommon elevation of mind, he added a warmth of temper which would suffer him to brook from no man, or in any place, the slightest indignity. Of this he exhibited on one occasion an eminent proof. The Earl of Stair, Secretary of State, and Minister for Scotland, having in the heat of debate used an improper expression against Mr. Fletcher, he seized his lordship by his robe, and insisted upon immediate and public satisfaction. The Earl was instantly obliged to beg his pardon in presence of parliament.

EARL OF SHAFTESBURY.

The author of the Characteristics, when Lord Ashley, and soon after he had taken his seat in the House of Commons, rose to speak in support of the act, "for granting counsel to prisoners in cases of high treason;" but found himself so embarrassed, that he was unable to express his sentiments. The house cheered him ; and, recovering from his confusion, he very happily converted the difficulty and embarrassment of his own situation in favour of the bill. "If I, sir," said he, addressing the speaker," if I, who rise only to offer my opinion on the bill now depending, am so confounded that I am unable to express the least of what I intended to say, what must the condition of that man be, who, without any assistance, is pleading for his life?"

ROYAL COMMISSIONER.

was

A singular specimen of parliamentary eloquence, at a very early period of English history, is furnished in the speech of the Archbishop of Canterbury to the House of Peers, in 1377, the first year of the reign of Richard II., who ascended the throne at the age of eleven years. The cause of the summons declared by the archbishop in a speech beginning with this text, rex tuus venit tibi; which subject he divided into three parts, saying, "That for three causes every friend ought to be welcome to another; first, if he came to rejoice or be merry with his friend for any singular benefit or good bap that had befallen him; and, therefore, made use of this odd

expression, for a male friend; et exultavit infans in utero ejus. The next was, if the said friend came to comfort another in adversity, as is mentioned in the book of Job. And the last, for trying his friend in the time of adversity, according to the Scripture, in necessitate probabiter amicus." To this preface he applied, "That the king, their undoubted liege lord, was now come unto them, not for one, but for all the three causes. For the first, to rejoice with them in the great providence and grace of God, by sending his person amongst them; not by any collateral means, or election, but by special descent of inheritance; and for their good wills towards him, he was, therefore, come to give them thanks. For the second, to visit and comfort them in their necessities and adversities he was also come, not only for the death of the noble King Edward, and the prince, his son, but also for the great losses which they had sustained on the sea coasts, and elsewhere, within the realm, by their enemies, whereunto he was now come, not only to proffer himself in aid, but to confirm all their liberties; to maintain the laws and peace of the kingdom; and to redress all that was to the contrary. Thirdly, to try or assay them, he was also come to advise and counsel with them for suppressing the enemy; and to require an aid of them, without which they could not perform the same. For all which reasons, he desires them to consult together."

BISHOP MERKS.

When Richard II. had been deposed by the usurpation of Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV.

the House of Peers decreed, that he should be "put under a safe and secret guard, and in such a place, where no concourse of people might resort to him." The only man, either in the clergy or laity, that had the courage to oppose this usurpation at the time, was Thomas Merks, Bishop of Carlisle. Sir Walter Ralegh, in speaking of this prelate, says, that "he was the only honest man in this parliament, who scorned his life and fortune, in respect to his sovereign's right and his own allegiance." This prelate suffered dearly for his integrity; for he was instantly deprived of his dignity, and suffered long imprisonment; and had it not been for his order, which was then held inviolable, he would have died the death of a traitor. The following are some of the most remarkable passages of this eloquent speech.

But, alas! good King Richard, why such cruelty? What such impiety bath he ever committed? Examine rightly those imputations which are laid against him, without any false circumstance of aggravation, and you shall find nothing objected, either of any truth or of great moment. It may be that many errors and oversights have escaped him, yet none so grievous to be termed tyranny; as proceeding rather from unexperienced ignorance, or corrupt counsel, than from any natural or wilful malice. Oh! how shall the world be pestered with tyrants, if subjects may rebel upon every pretence of tyranny? How many good princes shall daily be suppressed by those whom they ought to be supported? If they levy a subsidy, or any other taxation, it shall be claimed oppression; if they put any to death for traiterous attempts against their persons, it shall be exclaimed cruelty; if they